I would consider this as the best 2023 drama. Adaptation from the novel with author Tong Hua, she's also participated in write the script. The novel has 3 phases which Season 1 covered one and half phases of the novel, bet the other one & half phases will be covered in season 2. The story was about Xiao Yao (or Haoling Jiu Yao) a beloved Princess of Hao Ling Kingdom who got lost to wilderness at really young age. She had the magic talent to transform herself into anyone any age any gender, so much so she forgot her real face. She's transformed as Wen Xiao Liu, a male doctor whose expertise in fertility as well as poison, she rescued an old deserter soldier Lao Mu and 2 human Cheng Zhi, Ma Zi and they were creating a family bond in a small town Qing Shui. One day, at the bank of a river Xiao Liu decided to rescue a beggar who were so badly injured and close to his last breath. He took care of him, medicated him, feed and wash him till he's back to health. The family decided to name him Ye Shi Qi. They bonded well and ShiQi learned quick doctoring and help out with the family business - like every thing was so ordinary and humble yet very rewarding. Then, there's news that some newcomers came to town to open a wine shop in the neighborhood; Xuan LaoBan & A Nian with their respective helpers, a dashing respectable young man with his beautiful spoil cousin. They opened business that became well known and a favorite stop for villagers. Xiao Liu's family got altercation with A Nian, resulting confrontation and nasty fight defending their side of family argumentation. Meanwhile, Wen Xiao Liu also met the most horrible General Xiang Liu, Nine-headed sea demon, military Advisor of Chen Rong Kingdom.

**Xiao Yao (Haoling Jiu Yao) a beloved Princess of Hao Ling Kingdom/Wen Xiao Liu (Yang Zhi)
She's a princess of Hao Ling, the granddaughter of Emperor Huan Yuan. She got lost in the young age looking for her father, went through some horrific experiences since then, in order to survive she used her magic to transform her identity frequently until she forgot her real face. She's kind, loyal, afraid of loneliness, free spirit, coy, well liked. Been through alot since early age, she's always on the survival mode. Her undying love to TuShan Jing was the product of his devotion to their relationship, the proven ups-down relationship from their lowest life experience to most happiest time together thru time and time again. She didn't see any man could compare with Jing while she enthralled with Xiang Liu and fully supportive and dedicated to Cang Xuan or friendship towards Feng Long, in her eyes Jing was the most important man in her life. She'e pretty forward with her love interest, she initiated the approach. Her undying support to Cang Xuan was because she wanted to be in his side in their path together, she wanted Cang Xuan to achieve happiness towards his goal. Although Xiang Liu treated her in abusive way, she got to experience many thing while travel with him and...exciting to be with the bad boy. Chishui Feng Long was her first official fiance, she didn't love him, she agreed to get engage with him after heartbreak with Jing and she thought she could help strengthen Cang Xuan position by marrying him which ended she left him at the altar.

**Cang Xuan (Zhuan Xu), Prince of Xi Yan Kingdom (Zhang Wan Yi)
He's ambitious, intelligence, firm, loyal. This's the journey of his top ambition to became an Emperor. He married many women, had 2 Empresses but his happiness were deep secret corner in his heart for Xiao Yao. His marriages were for political purposes, he didn't care much about the wives, his fully concentration was to the political gain, strategy, plots, securing states and the people, wise governing the county, stability projection for all tribes and offered peace. But he secretly harbor deep affection and love for his cousin, get really upset and jealous to any man close to Xiao Yao. He used her for political piece, he let Xiao Yao to have relationship with Jing to gain political/monetary support from TuShan Clan, he let Xiao Yao engaged to Feng Long for support from big clan ChiShui. He's happy with the break up between Jing and Xiao Yao or/and when Xiao Yao left Feng Long at the altar. Eating his heart alive, he couldn't let Xiao Yao go until he made a terrible mistake; he had his hand killing TuShan Jing. Xiao Yao found out, all their strong bond loving relationship shattered broken...irreparable. But Xiao Yao couldn't hate him...she'd rather die than hurting him. A powerful Emperor live in a lonely on top of the world.

**Tushan Jing /Ye Shiqi, second young master and successor of Tushan Tribe (Deng Wei)
Wen Xiao Liu rescued him back to health when he was broken, injured, battered unrecognizable almost a dead man. He 's decided to become Xiao Liu servant to show gratitude, he worked hard around the house, really smart quickly learn medicine to help out with clinic. Who knew he was the famous 2nd young master for the most richest powerful business family who would someday became the successor of Tushan clan. TuShan Jing was a prodigy as reserved, handsome, gentle, loyal, great personality, highly intelligent, screw businessman, no ambition in politic, brilliant accountant, calm, literate, master in playing qing and chess who had magnitude responsibilities and dysfunctional family. Unfortunately he's engaged to Fangfeng Yi Ying - a master of arrow shooter - he went missing few days before their wedding. He also had a jealous older brother TuShan Hao, who tortured Jing - traumatic emotional and physical abuser, he's the one who impregnate Yi Ying and claimed the baby was Jing's that caused Jing and Xiao Yao broke up (too bad his trusted beloved grandmother betrayed him), promised in 15 years time he wished to be back as Ye ShiQi and leave his position was broken and he married Yi Ying. Tushan Jing was a highly intelligent man, he's devious in regard to win back Xiao Yao, he initiated to wreck Xiao Yao wedding to Feng Long. His idea to support Cang Xuan was behind the screen, he devised strategy for ambitious Feng Long. His quiet and calm demeanor gave wrong impression to his peers. Jings love was forlorn yet beautifully sweet determination...with so much coaxing and pleading he won Xiao Yao understanding and heart many times over.

** Xiang Liu Nine-headed sea demon. Military Advisor of Chen Rong Kingdom/Fangfeng Bei Second young master of Fangfeng Tribe - Yang Yi's brother (Tan Jian Ci) He's an eccentric, boorish, crude, unpredictable, powerful, killer for hire, tackles but he had a soft spot for Xiao Liu. Although he treated her like a hot potato, his action spoke better than his words. He used Xiao Liu/Yao for her medicated blood saving his life many times and her knowledge of poisons, he endured many BS Xiao Liu tell but he liked his company. He could actually act gentlemanly as FangFeng Bai which he became Xiao Yao's arrow teacher, took her to gambling den, drinks and going about town, fun to be around with. He attempted to offer his heart to Xiao Yao but got rejected, he understood she only had her eyes to TuShan Jing, he realized they both came from totally different status. As they both were connected by lover bugs, he immediately knew whenever Xiao Yao got hurt. When Xiao Yao was critically injured, Xiang Liu came right up to save here. At the end though he righted the wrongs, sacrificed so much, gave up everything just to save a woman he really loved without asking anything back...none of those he wished Xiao Yao not to know about. He also saved TuShan Jing, an unlikely friendship just because they're actually made business transaction many times over.

**Chishui Feng Long/ChiShui Young Chief (Wang Hong Yi)
He's TuShan Jing's best friend, very ambitious, easy going and twin brother of Chenrong Xin Yue (Wang Zhen) one of Cang Xuan's Empress. TuShan Jing introduced Feng Long to Cang Xuan for him to gain strong political ally, Jing tought Feng Long strategies for him to pass it along to Cang Xuan which he thought Feng Long was such an amazing brilliant strategist. Although Jing knew Feng Long was interested in Xiao Yao, he shamelessly used him to lure Xiao Yao to their resident so he could woo her in person. Feng Long pledged alliance to Cang Xuan, helped him to gain power and became Great General, proposed marriage to Xiao Yao which's accepted after Xiao Yao broke up with Jing. His friendship to Jing was deteriorated when he knew Jing steal Xiao Yao at the wedding ceremony. He became Cang Xuan's right hand, most trusted general, best friend, strong ally. At the end though, he tried to kill Xiao Yao whose Cang Xuan's most treasured person. Because of regret, Feng Long requested to go war against Chen Rong rebel Army and died at the hand of Xiang Liu. His last words hunted Cang Xuan...

What I love about this drama is consistency interpretation from book to drama, outstanding setting, explosion of details, flowing story, beautiful costumes, great collaboration between main and supporting actors, loving the OST. I think this is a perfect casting, can't think anyone else perfect for the roles. Yang Zhi is perfect Wen Xiao Liu, Zhang WenYi is definitely Cang Xuan, Deng Wei is a quite gentle TuShan Jing, Tan jianCi has Xiang Liu's aura, while Wang HongYi has easy going Feng Long. I think Yang Zhi isn't a great beauty that would captured 4 men's heart (but love can do weird things to us) that would lay down their lives for her, Ep 32 she started to fall into her usual cringe chatty high pitch little girl voice - let's skip that part. I found that Deng Wei & Tan Jian Ci (he had terrifying murderous laugh) did great with their characters more so than the other. 3 strong-characters and overly ambitious men, Xiao Yao is well matched with Tushan Jing who has calm characters that so different from the rest. 39 episodes ended the Season 1 when Cang Xuan was choosen as next Emperor of Xi Yuan Kingdom and looking forward for season 2 where all this manifestation complete.